Submissions | How to Enter
Submissions for 2026 are now closed.
The £10,000 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize celebrates the outstanding adventure writing of today, recognising novels that expand horizons, connect with different cultures, and compel readers from start to finish through exceptional storytelling.
Past winners and shortlisted titles demonstrate the wide scope of adventure writing, embracing diverse voices, global settings and stories that sit across and beyond traditional genre boundaries. We welcome entries from authors of all nationalities writing in English.
We expect an adventure story, and all entries to the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, to:
- Take the reader on an epic journey, exploring new horizons – be they historical or geographical
- Explore the themes of courage, endurance and resourcefulness
- Allow readers to connect with a different reality or culture
- Keep a reader turning the pages from the very start to finish not only due to the story, but also the excellent writing
Our full definition of adventure writing can be found here.
Every year, our longlist and shortlist are selected by a team of librarians and library staff from across the UK, before the final six books head to our expert judging panel, all professionals in the literary and/or adventure fields. Working to our guidelines, the books chosen at each stage both honour the traditions of adventure as a genre and are doing something new. The Prize strives to recognise the breadth of the genre, and show that there is 'An Adventure for Everyone' in the listings.
In line with the Prize’s commitment to accessibility and growing readership, books being submitted for the 2026 award must now be published and available in paperback in the UK, on or before 30th April 2026. For full eligibility criteria and further detail on what we’re looking for, please refer to our Terms & Conditions.
Previous Winners:
